Three-dimensional puzzle

ABSTRACT

A three dimensional puzzle, including a central body with a first image on it, with outer pieces being connected to the central body. Once the pieces are connected to the central body, a second image is seen.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to three-dimensional puzzles, in particular a type of puzzle in which the pieces are assembled around a base object.

2. Description of Related Art

It is known to have a three-dimensional puzzle in which the pieces themselves combine to form a three-dimensional design, usually with an image on the outside. Two examples of puzzles like this are U.S. Pat. No. 6,655,685 to Tsai and U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,521 to Patel. These three-dimensional puzzles all have only one finished product to look at and enjoy.

In the Patel design, as well as in U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,979 to Weber, there is an inner piece, which the outer pieces are assembled around; however, neither inner piece has any type of design on it.

There also currently exist several different variations of a magnetic type of puzzle, most of which include a variety of pieces which fit together in a puzzle-type configuration, and have some form of magnetic means to attach the pieces to some form of metal backing. U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,847 to Butt takes this one step further, with additional pieces being able to be attached to the front of the assembled puzzle picture. However, these magnetic puzzles are all relatively two dimensional, with the image only facing one direction.

There are also a few magnetic toys such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,790,117 to Gonzalez where there is an image such as a doll, and items such as clothing are magnetically attached over top of the doll, changing its appearance. These toys are also generally two-dimensional, with the image only appearing on one side of the toy. As well, the clothing is not in any type of puzzle-form, involving any type of challenge to place them on the doll correctly.

There remains a need for an improvement to the above mentioned puzzles and toys.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the preferred embodiment there is a toy or puzzle comprising a three-dimensional central body, a first image on the central body, and a plurality of outer pieces configured in puzzle-type arrangement, including a second image and means to connect the outer pieces to the central body.

In this preferred embodiment the outer pieces completely cover the central body when connected. As well, the connecting means are magnets. The outer pieces may contain magnets and the central body includes a material to which the outer pieces can adhere, e.g. a ferrous material, or the central body may contain magnetic material and the outer pieces include the ferrous material, such that the outer pieces will removably adhere to the body. In other embodiments, the connecting means may be something such as snaps or velcro. In the preferred embodiment, the central body rests upon a stand.

In this embodiment the first image is related to the second image. Specifically, in one embodiment, the central body is shaped like an animal, the first image is of a skeletal view of the animal, and the second image is an external view of the animal.

Other aspects and advantages of the device will become apparent from the following Detailed Description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the toy or puzzle with the outer pieces attached to a body.

FIG. 2 is a slightly elevated front view of the toy or puzzle with the outer pieces attached to half of the body.

FIG. 3 is a different side view of the toy or puzzle in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view similar to FIG. 3, but with additional outer pieces attached to the body.

FIG. 5 is a side view similar to FIG. 4, with even more outer pieces attached to the body.

FIG. 6 is a side view similar to FIG. 5, with all of the outer pieces attached to the body.

FIG. 7 is a top view of one of the outer pieces.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the outer piece from FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a close up view of the toy or puzzle of FIG. 6, without the outer piece from FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is an image of the outer piece from FIG. 7 being attached to the body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1-3, a preferred embodiment of a toy or puzzle 10 is shown. The toy 10 includes a central body 12 and a plurality of outer pieces 14 which are assembled in a puzzle-type arrangement. The central body 12 includes a first image 16. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the first image 16 is a dinosaur skull, as can be seen clearly in FIG. 3. When the outer pieces 14 are assembled around the central body 12, a second image 18 is shown, as can be seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6 as the external view of a dinosaur head. A singular outer piece 14 is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, with a portion of the second image 18 shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 2 shows the toy 10 with a portion of the first image 16 already having been covered with the outer pieces 14, showing the second image 18. Another embodiment (not illustrated) of the design is to have the toy or puzzle 10 at this stage to begin with, and only have a portion of the second image 18 to be formed from outer pieces 14.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show one embodiment of the toy 10 with various outer pieces 14 attached to the central body 12, with the completed puzzle shown in FIG. 6. As can be seen from FIGS. 4 and 5, the outer pieces 14 can be attached independently, and do not have to be assembled in any particular order.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, magnetic material 20 is used on one side of the outer pieces to connect the outer pieces 14 to the central body 12. However, any number of connecting means, such as snaps or hook-loop fasteners, may be used without departing from the spirit of the design. As well, in this embodiment, the magnetic material 20 is located on the side of the outer pieces which come in contact with the body 12 and the central body 12 is made of a suitable material to provide a magnetic attraction force to the outer pieces, such as ferrous material. However, in an alternate embodiment, the outer pieces 14 could be made of the ferrous material, while the central body 12 comprises a magnetic material, such as in the form of a plurality of magnets or a coating of magnetic material.

As was mentioned above, FIG. 7 shows the front of a singular outer piece 14 with a portion of the second image 18, while FIG. 8 shows the back portion of the same outer piece 14, with magnetic material 20 inside the back of the piece 14. In the preferred embodiment, the back of each outer piece 14 is contoured to fit into any grooves or indentations in its designated location along the central body 12. The location on the central body 12 of the outer piece from FIGS. 7 and 8, is shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 10 shows the outer piece 14 from FIGS. 7 and 8 being placed into the gap 22 in the outer pieces 14 shown in FIG. 9.

These drawings show the central body 12 in the shape of a dinosaur head, with the first image 16 being a dinosaur skull, and the second image 18 being the external view of the head, with the skin, eyes, etc. However, this is just one possible embodiment. Any possible first and second images may be used, such as the toy 10 being a super hero, with the first image being a plain clothed man, and the second image being the super hero in costume.

Another possibility that is shown in the drawings, but is not necessary, is to have the central body 12 rest upon a stand 24.

Shown in the drawings is the preferred embodiment. Other changes or modifications may be made without departed from the spirit of the intended invention.

Thus, while there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto. 

1. A toy or puzzle apparatus, comprising: a) a three-dimensional central body; b) a first image on the central body; and c) a plurality of outer pieces configured in puzzle-type arrangement, including a second image and means to connect the outer pieces to the central body.
 2. The toy apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer pieces completely cover the central body when connected.
 3. The toy apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting means are magnets.
 4. The toy apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the outer pieces contain magnets and the central body includes magnetic material.
 5. The toy apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the central body contains magnets and the outer pieces include magnetic material.
 6. The toy apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting means are snaps.
 7. The toy apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprises hook and loop fasteners.
 8. The toy apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central body rests upon a stand.
 9. The toy apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first image is related to the second image.
 10. The toy apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the central body is shaped like an animal, the first image is of a skeletal view of the animal, and the second image is an external view of the animal.
 11. The toy apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the central body is shaped like a human being. 